I know it has been far too long since I updated the blog. The last few months have been chaotic. This cold and flu season has kicked my butt. In November I got pretty sick. It felt like Covid or the flu, but the tests came back negative so I have no idea what it was. I somehow have still haven’t knowingly had Covid yet. I went to Paris in November on my solo trip, but unfortunately I was really sick. My entire trip consisted of sleeping, going to the corner store to buy a giant water and electrolytes, going back to the apartment, laying in bed all day, and going back to the store when I ran out of water. I did manage to drag myself out of bed long enough to go visit the Eiffel Tower. I was gone a little over two hours and it took everything I had. I’m bummed because I had so many plans and didn’t get to do them. Even being as sick as I was I really loved Paris and can’t wait to go back some day.

In January Leo and I went to Barcelona for a few days. We have passed through Barcelona but never really saw it. I know people love Barcelona, but I have never been super impressed. I wanted to give it a fair chance and I still don’t feel super impressed. I don’t hate it by any means, but I also don’t love it. Though they did have a really cool science museum that Leo and I both enjoyed.

While Leo and I were in Barcelona storm Kristin hit Portugal. Leiria got hit the worst. Kyle’s last text to me one night was that the wind was so strong that he thought it was going to blow the building down. And then I didn’t hear from him for a day or so. The power and internet had gone out country wide one day earlier last year, so I was worried but not too panicked when I didn’t hear from him. I figured the storm must have knocked out power and internet, which it did. It was frustrating because I kept trying to find information on the storm and it just wasn’t being reported on much. Luckily Kyle was able to connect to the cell towers about once a day just to check in. I booked Leo and I a hotel in Lisbon for a few nights since they had power. It was quite the ordeal for Kyle and Sofia to make it to Lisbon. I bought them bus tickets but the bus station was destroyed. Trains weren’t running due to debri. At first the roads were closed, but then they opened up one. All of the gas stations were closed, but luckily our neighbor was able to tell Kyle about one that was open. He went and sat in line for over an hour. The gas light came on and he was genuinely worried that he wouldn’t get gas and would run out before he could even make it home. It was super tense, but luckily he was able to get gas. This was all happening when Leo and I were on the plane home.

Reunited in Lisbon

Even though me and Leo were in Barcelona it was stressful worrying about Kyle and Sofia. They had it worse of course, because they had no power for a few days. We stayed in Lisbon for one night, and then we moved to a house further north. I had to work and didn’t think it would work out so well in the hotel. We found a cute little house with a yard and the kids loved playing in the yard. When the power came back on in Leiria we went back home. The power was still spotty for a few days, but luckily I was still able to work. All of the trees fell by our apartment. Sofia was upset to see so much of the city damaged. Their school was damaged and the roof was ripped off in parts. The school was closed for a few days. Things seem more normal now, but there is still a good amount of visible damage. After Kristin hit two more named storms hit. It was really stressful trying to prepare and keep an eye on things. I think 3 storms hit within 10-14 days. I’m so glad that time is over. We’re a bit worried for fire season as thousands of trees were ripped out due to wind. People are trying to clean them up, but there are so many dead and dying trees all over the place.

I’m sick yet again. I think this makes at least 3-4 times this season. November was the worst and this one is super annoying too. Not as bad as the November one was though. I’m already on day 14 of being sick this go around.

Tomorrow Sofia and I are headed to Lisbon for a night and then on Saturday we’re going to the Netherlands. I keep going back there and I haven’t been in two years, so I’m really excited. I finally get to see the tulips! We have tickets to Keukenhof on Sunday. They say not to go on weekends or holidays, so we decided to go on Easter Sunday, lol. Wish us luck! We are going to spend 5 days there and will take a day trip to Amsterdam as well. I’m excited about that too. I had gone there for a few hours two years ago with Leo, but he wasn’t really in the mood. Sofia will let me walk around a lot and she will love it. She loves big cities. She seems to be very ready for a vacation, so I’m excited for her too. I know the storm stressed her out a lot. She is scared of the dark like me, so the nights without power were hard on her. Especially when the wind picked up. Leo is already asking when our next vacation is.

I already have tickets for my solo trip later this year. I will be going to France. This time to Colmar and Strasbourg. The timbered houses look so cute and I’m excited to see them. I will be flying in and out of Basel and will spend a night there, so I will also get to see a tiny bit of Switzerland. I’m glad I’m finally venturing into France a bit. It’s definitely outside of my comfort zone. So is Germany, which will probably be my next push. I have been really wanting to go to Germany lately. Kyle is planning his solo trip too. He’s going to Vienna again to visit his sister. He will be there in late November, so he will probably get to see some of the Christmas Markets.

I’ll update in a few days from the Netherlands!